Free agent OF Delmon Young, MVP of the 2012 ALCS with the Tigers, signs a one-year contract with the Phillies for the surprisingly low salary of $750,000. Young’s market value has plummeted because of his defensive struggles, but he remains a dangerous hitter who could prove to be a tremendous bargain.

2013 – SS Miguel Tejada, trying to return to the big leagues after a year away from the diamond, commits a costly error in the bottom of the 11th inning of Game 4 of the Dominican League Finals, allowing Jesus Feliciano to score the winning run and give Escogido a 3 – 2 win over the Aguilas Cibaeñas. With the bases loaded, Tejada fields Mauro Gomez’s grounder cleanly, but throws the ball away to give Escogido a 3 games to 1 lead; Tejada had been his team’s best player until then, going 3 for 4 with a double.

P Nelson Figueroa leads the Leones del Escogido to a 9 – 0 win over the Aguilas Cibaeñas and a three games to none lead in the Dominican League finals. Figueroa pitches 8 scoreless innings, while Jorge Cantu hits a two-run homer in the 2nd to start the Lions’ attack.

Daniel Ortiz and Randy Ruiz hit back-to-back homers off Javier Vazquez in the 1st as Mayagüez wins, 2 – 1, to cut Caguas’ lead to 2 games to 1 in the Puerto Rican League finals. Randy Fontanez is the winner.

Two all-time greats pass away today, as long-time Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver dies at 82 and St. Louis Cardinals slugger Stan Musial is a victim of Alzheimer’s disease at 92 later in the day. Both were members of the Hall of Fame.

2013 – The Criollos de Caguas win the opening game of the Puerto Rican League finals defeating Mayagüez, 5 – 4. Ramon Castro and Henry Ramos both go 3 for 4 for the winners, with Cole McCurry getting the win.

2013 – Rosters for the 2013 World Baseball Classic are officially announced. The tournament will once again be star-studded, with reigning American League MVP Miguel Cabrera playing for Venezuela, Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey pitching for Team USA, and All-Stars such as Robinson Cano, Carlos Beltran, Adrian Gonzalez and Yadier Molina all committing to their respective national teams. Among players donning less familiar uniforms will be P Bruce Chen, who will toil for China after representing his native Panama in previous editions of the tournament, and 1B Anthony Rizzo who will be suiting up for Italy.

The Mariners acquire Michael Morse from the Nationals in a three-way trade that sends catcher John Jaso to the A’s, who deal minor league pitchers A.J. Cole and Blake Treinen, and a player to be named later to Washington. The 30 year-old outfielder/first baseman, obtained to provide additional punch to Seattle’s middle-of-the-order, spent the first four years of his big league career playing for the Northwest team.

The Nationals, facing a glut of outfielders, send Mike Morse to Seattle as part of a three-team trade. C John Jaso goes from Seattle to Oakland, while the Nats repatriate pitching prospect A.J. Cole as well as Blake Treinen.

After watching their bullpen implode in the NLDS last season, the Nationals sign Rafael Soriano to a two-year, $28 million deal to be the club’s closer. The 33 year-old right-handed reliever, who had a league-leading 45 saves for the Rays in 2011, filled in for the injured Mariano Rivera last season and saved 42 games for the Yankees.